New Jersey legislation · 2026-2027 Regular Session
New Jersey A5137: Mental health prof, St-funded roster-perform competency eval in criminal cases
Status: In committee, May 28, 2026
Establishes State-funded roster of mental health professionals to perform competency evaluations in criminal cases; makes appropriation.
What the bill says
An Act concerning competency evaluations of criminal defendants, amending N.J.S.2C:4-5, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
From the introduced text, May 28, 2026:
An Act concerning competency evaluations of criminal defendants, amending N.J.S.2C:4-5, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. N.J.S.2C:4-5 is amended to read as follows: 2C:4-5. Psychiatric or Psychological Examination of Defendant With Respect to Fitness to Proceed. a. Whenever there is reason to doubt the defendants fitness to proceed, the court may on motion by the prosecutor, the defendant or on its own motion, appoint at least one qualified psychiatrist or licensed psychologist [ADDED: , or if the defendant is charged with a crime of the first or second degree, appoint at least two qualified psychiatrists or licensed psychologists,] to examine and report upon the mental condition of the defendant. The psychiatrist or licensed psychologist so appointed shall be either: (1) From [a list agreed to by the court, the prosecutor and the defendant] [ADDED: the State-funded roster established pursuant to section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill), which may include personnel from the Department of Human Services] ; or (2) Agreed to by the court, prosecutor and defendant. [Alternatively, the court may order examination of a defendant for fitness to proceed by the Department of Human Services. The] [ADDED: If …
Sponsors
- Sean T. Kean (R, 30) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : INT 1RA REF AJU
Subjects: HUMAN SERVICES - MENTAL HEALTH
Common questions
- What is A5137?
- A5137 is a bill in the New Jersey Legislature (2026-2027 Regular Session): Mental health prof, St-funded roster-perform competency eval in criminal cases.
- What does A5137 do?
- In its own words: An Act concerning competency evaluations of criminal defendants, amending N.J.S.2C:4-5, supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes, and making an appropriation.
- What is the status of A5137?
- In committee as of May 28, 2026. Latest action: INT 1RA REF AJU (May 28, 2026).
- Who sponsored A5137?
- Sean T. Kean (R, 30).
- Where is the official record for A5137?
- On the New Jersey Legislature website: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/A5137
Source: official New Jersey record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.